Maxim Smith Divorce Matrix

No two couples are alike, and this remains true even during a divorce. For some divorcing couples, things between the spouses have gotten so bad that they can’t stand to interact. If you and your spouse fall into this category, you need an aggressive, tenacious attorney to fight for your rights whether in negotiations or in court. However, this is not the case for all couples. If you are getting a divorce but remain amicable towards your spouse, it’s possible you have common goals you hope to achieve at the end of the process. In this case, there is no reason for such an adversarial approach towards your divorce.

Love what you are doing. Innovative. Thoughtful. Reality based and personalized. The Pyramid shows the work of Art and Science. Creative. Earth bound. I respect how you handled and respected our mutual client. Very impressive that you are investing in the next generation of colleagues. When we say we are professional, that means we ‘speak for.’ You’re professional in many ways. My best to you.”

-John R.

A Friendly Divorce in St. Paul, MN

A Friendly Divorce consists simply of agreeing upon the terms of your divorce with your spouse and hiring an attorney to draw up the necessary documents to present to the court when finalizing your divorce. It is an efficient, no-fuss approach to divorce with a predictable outcome. If you and your spouse can make a Friendly Divorce work for you, it is absolutely the easiest, least expensive option. You won’t need to involve the court in your decision-making process, which means neither you nor your spouse will have to deal with undesired or unexpected outcomes.

Allison Maxim has worked with many couples to streamline their Friendly Divorce and ensure they don’t waste their resources on stressful and unnecessary negotiations. She is a trained mediator, which allows her to help iron out any differences of opinion that may arise between you and your spouse.

In a Friendly Divorce, the attorney is ethically prohibited from representing two people at the same time.  So, if Friendly Divorce sounds like a good fit for you, either you or your spouse would enter a legal engagement with Maxim Smith, Family Law Attorneys St. Paul. After initially reviewing your case, Allison will be upfront about the cost of your Friendly Divorce. While other types of divorce may fluctuate in price throughout the process, you won’t have any surprises with your Friendly Divorce– your cost will be a flat fee.

Looking for a Cooperative and Collaborative Divorce?

A cooperative and collaborative divorce is best for couples who would like to amicably determine their distribution of assets, parenting time, and other factors outside of court, but who may not agree on exactly what that means. If you are both committed to reaching a fair resolution, your attorneys can assist you in completing the steps necessary to get there. When you decide on a Cooperative and Collaborative Divorce, both parties will initially sign a contract agreeing to common grounds of care and respect towards each other and the divorce process. This type of collaboration may be more expensive than a Friendly Divorce (since both parties need an attorney), but it is a great option for couples who hope to retain control of the negotiation process.

When you work with Maxim Smith during your Collaborative Divorce, you can be sure your attorney is committed to a compassionate and thoughtful approach to your case. These are the tenants of Mindful Family Law, an approach Allison Maxim practices to ensure you will feel emotionally supported and that your voice is heard during your divorce. Mindful Family Law encourages clients to observe and attend to any emotions that arise in a constructive manner so they don’t negatively affect the divorce outcome. Couples committed to a Collaborative Divorce can really benefit from sorting through emotions and eventually move past them to truly determine the best interests of both parties.

Minnesota Divorce Negotiated through Lawyers

If you would like to avoid going to court but don’t feel you and your spouse can successfully navigate a Collaborative Divorce, your best option may be a divorce negotiated through your lawyers. This may be a good approach for you and your spouse if you just can’t seem to agree on most aspects of the divorce, or if the process has become too emotional and you fear you are unable to respectfully negotiate. When negotiating through lawyers, both parties hire their own attorney who prioritizes the party’s best interest during negotiations. This may be tenser than a Collaborative Divorce, and it’s possible that the stressful nature of this type of divorce will highlight issues that you didn’t anticipate. Still, if you feel there is any possibility of reaching a resolution with your spouse without getting the court involved, a divorce negotiated through your attorneys is a good option. It is important to hire an attorney who is experienced in negotiations and can successfully advocate for you.

A Divorce Determined by the Court

If you and your spouse have had a contentious separation and don’t anticipate you will be able to successfully negotiate, your final option is a divorce where the terms are determined by the court. This can be an expensive, strenuous process and the outcome is ultimately unpredictable, so it’s best for most couples to avoid this option if possible. However, sometimes going to court is in your best interest. For example, if you or your child have experienced domestic violence within your marriage, Maxim Smith can help reduce your stress and fear by assisting you in obtaining an Order for Protection against your spouse during your divorce.

All hope is not lost when taking your divorce before the court. With the right divorce attorney on your side, you’re more likely to be awarded a favorable outcome. Your Maxim Smith attorney will fight for your rights and ensure the odds are in your favor when you go before a judge.